I'm pretty new, and just bought my first set of gear second hand. Only thing it didn't come with was the spreader bar. I want the 8" standard hook bar, but I need to know, can any bar be used with any harness? Or are there different connectors between the bar and the harness. Or is it like 90% use the same system but there a few that don't.
There are are a few different connector systems but all as far as I know will connect with one main or two angled cinching straps. Just make sure you get the connector that hooks into the spreader bar you buy (which will then allow the threading through of the cinching straps). Best would be to buy the spreader bar that is the original for the harness you have, but they are highly interchangeable for the most part. A kite shop would sort you out if you have no one to guide you. Or buy a new last season complete harness... there's heaps on offer and cheap.
I have changed spreader bars a fair bit to try different sliding spreader systems
The thing to look out for are:
- Width of webbing (and how many webbing points there are)
- Any wings on the spreader (that might need to be tucked into the harness behind the webbing)
- Bar width (a narrower bar will pinch the harness tight)
If these all match up then you are probably good to go.